L.A. Theatre Works' "The Play's The Thing," kicks off its seventh annual live radio theatre series with Broadway veterans Stacy Keach, JoBeth Williams and Lindsay Crouse in the 1945 Pulitzer Prize-winning play, The State of the Union, running Oct. 16-19.

The script, by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse, has been updated with references to the modern election, including Collin Powell and Newt Gingrich, by playwright and New Yorker columnist Sidney Blumenthal.

Although it is a popular time to do a presidential production,the union in this play refers to the chaotic state of the relationship between a Republican presidential candidate and his potential first lady, who is being courted by her husband's top supporter, an attractive newspaper man.

Ron Rifkin, Laura San Giacomo, Ed Asner, Jacqueline Bissett, and Rue McClanahan are among many other stars scheduled to appear in the series, containing six other plays with four performances each, between October 16 and March 1.

The plays will all be recorded for a later broadcast over KCRW 89.9FM in Los Angeles, Santa Monica College's radio station which features NPR. -- By Blair Glaser